Cover-wrench.



No. 700,752. Pa'tented May 27, I902. J. B. ERWINL COVER WRENCH.

(Application filed June 13, 1901.)

(No Model.)

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U ITE STATES PATENT @rrrcs,

JAMES B. ERVVIN, OF MILWVAUKEE, \VISCONSIN.

COVER-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 700,752, dated. May 27, 1902.

Application filed June 13, 1901.

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that-'1, JAMES B. ERWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of "Wiscousin, have inventedmew and useful Improvements in Cover-Wrenches, of which the following is a specification. 4

-My invention relates to improvements in cover-wrenches for fruit-jars; and it pertains more especially, first, to the construction of the short arms of the clamping-levers, whereby as they are brought toward each other in the act of drawing theclamping-band around the cover the area of their contact-bearings against the clamping-band is increased and whereby the tendency of the clamping-levers to oscillate toward the right and left as the cover is screwed on and off is avoided, and,

second, to-the peculiar construction of the contact-bearing ends of the short arms of the clamping-levers, whereby they are adapted to when placing it upon the cover, and also whereby the ends of said short arms are prevented from coming indirect contact with the cover.

The construction of my invention is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a plan view showing the wrench open preparatory to being placed upon the cover, and Fig. 2 isa like view showing the wrench in its closed position.

Like parts are identified by the same reference-letter in'both views.

A A are the long arms, and B B are the short arms, of the clamping-levers, which are connected together bythe pivotal bolt 0.

D is a clamping-band. The band D is preferably formed of elastic'steel wire the tension of which is such as to throw the operating-levers apart from each other when released from pressure, whereby said clamping-band is easily and quickly placed over the cover of the jar without the necessity of spreading the long arms of said levers. The short arms of the clamping-levers are provided with apertures E E for the reception of Serial No. 64,356. (No model.)

the ends of the clamping-band D, while their ends are provided with concave grooves F F for the reception of the sides of the clamping-band. The respective ends of the clamping-band are inserted through the short arms of the clamping-levers from their inner opposing sides or edges, the ends of said clamping-band terminating outwardly, as shown, whereby it is obvious that the contact-bearings of said clamping-band are brought within the grooves F F of said levers, and the ends of said levers are prevented-from coming in direct contact with the cover, whereby the liability of indenting the cover or break- 'ing the jar is avoided. Attention is also called to the fact that the contact-bearing ends of said short'arms are respectively curved outwardly and away from each other,whereby as they are brought toward each other in the act oficlampin'g the band around the can their contact surfaces with the clampingband are increased, so'that when the levers are in the closed position their short arms afiord a broad bearing against said clamping-band, which prevents said clamping-levers from yielding orinclining towardthe right and left, as they would otherwise do when screwing on 'and'off the cover. Thus it will be obvious that by the peculiar construction of the short arms of the levers and the peculiar manner of attaching the clamping-band three very important objects are accomplished, First, the clamping-band is so held that it cannot be inclined upwardly and downwardly at right" angles to the pivotal support when placing the same upon a cover or when lifting a jar; second, owing to the breadth of the contact-bearings of such clamping-arms they afford a broad base for the clamping-levers by which they are prevented, as stated, from yielding toward the right and left when screwing on and off the cover, and, third, owing to the fact that said clamping-band is brought within the grooved ends ofth'e short arms of the clamping-levers said short'arms are prevented from coming in contact with and injuring the cover when the same is being screwed on and off. It will be obvious that by thus permitting the ends of the clampingband to pass freely through the apertures in the short arms of the clamping-levers said band is free to be contracted to its smallest diameter around the cover of the fruit-jar Without changing its true circular form, as the surplus metal in the band when contracted to the smallest circle is free to pass'toward the right and left through said apertures. It is also obvious that when the pressure upon the operating-levers is released the ends of the clamping-band will be drawn back through said apertures and the band will spring back to its formerposition, describing a larger cirole, while were the ends of said band prevented from thus passing through said apertures as the levers are drawn toward each other the clamping-band would be forced out of its normal circular shape into an elliptical shape, and would not conform to the circular shape of the cover.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A cover-Wrench for fruit-jars, comprising two pivotally-connected clamping-levers, having grooved, outwardly-diverging short arms provided with transverse apertures for the ing short arms are brought into contact with said clamping-band and the base of contact of said arms is increased, whereby the tendency of the same to incline in either direction, as the cover is turned, is avoided, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES B. ERW'IN.

Witnesses:

G. L. Reason, M. WALDO. 

